How to PITCH, be it for Golf or INVESTMENT!

A Senior PGA golfer wanted to be kept abreast of all the new discoveries being made in sports psychology. 

So, he asked Dr Bob Rotella, a world-renowned sports psychologist, to bring him up to speed with the latest developments. 

Dr Rotella guided Rory McIlroy towards his recent Grand Slam Masters victory.

Here is Bob’s response:

“I had to tell him that most of what passes for discovery in sports psychology really isn’t new. There is just the same old wisdom, repeated over and over again, repackaged in new terminology.”

Taken from his wonderful book ‘Golf Is Not a Game of Perfect’, not only an excellent book for golfers who wish to improve, but in my mind a guide to how to live your life

Pitch for Investment: 

The same applies to Pitching and the templates offered up as state-of-the-art  (that expression is now out of date) by the likes of Sequoid Capital, Kawasaki’s 10/20/30 formula, and then there are also Y Combinator, Techstars and many others. All using their own words to describe more or less the same questions that need answering if you wish to win funding.

I strongly agree with all of the advice provided by these esteemed organisations.

You must address each of these headings:  

The Problem, Solution, Market Size, Route-to-Market, Traction, Competition, Team and most importantly the ASK  

However, when coaching my clients, I use storytelling/visual words and place great emphasis on the order in which they present each of these topics.

There is no right or wrong order to tell your story. How you answer the questions an investor needs to know will change as your business ideas evolve.

Sometimes the focus should be on the team, other times it’s the product, and when Sales are generated, it’s the key to unlocking investment.

However, I believe you must start with the PROBLEM Story. 

A Pitch should be a story that people will remember and be capable of retelling to others. If they are engaged enough and capable of retelling your story, you are on the road to success.

The best pitches are always stories delivered conversationally. 

I tell my clients to – Stop Selling, Pitching, Lecturing and Sermonising. These styles of presenting no longer engage.

Converse with people, and they will listen and engage:

Investors hear thousands of pitches, and most are not memorable or investable.

A good pitch coach will help you tell your story so that people understand, see the opportunity and want to engage further – the first step on the road to winning funding. 

My Goal: 

I want the people I work with to wake up every morning excited, because every day is another opportunity to chase their dreams. 

By Executive Coach Andrew Keogh of Aristo.ie